Capricorn1

Chuck, I know that many private colleges and universities receive tax breaks, such as Lycoming, which doesn't pay property tax, and students who attend these institutions can qualify for government loans and grants, but I'm not aware of any them actually receiving government funding like state sponsored institutions do.

CMReeder

Hate to burst your bubble here but private schools do get state funding it isn't the only source. They do fund raisers like public schools, they also do tutition like public schools. They get funds from the state and federal government but not to the extent that 'state' schools do.

gavinf56

Well Chuck, you are correct in a sense. The percentage has dropped, but the reason for the drop has been the extraordinary jump in the schools general fund.

In real terms adjusted for inflation, the state subsidy has decreased about 13% since 1970, while the increases have dwarfed those declines with both the general fund budget and tuition fees increasing by nearly 700% adjusted for inflation. If the state appropriation to PSU were to stay the same as the 1970 level, it would be $1.35 billion to Penn State alone (right now they receive around $285 million).

The question begs, was it the decrease in funding, or the increase in spending?

gavinf56

CMReeder

Well Gavin again you are speaking to dollars not percentage. States have been progressively giving less to higher education. There are less grants going to research. People see the dollar amount and see more but the reality is that schools have been getting less.

cheyenne

On the contrary, Chuck. I find the majority of Sham's posts quite amusing, and to a degree, educational. He is a perfect example of how easily some minds can be thoroughly brain-washed by skillful manipulators.

CMReeder

CMReeder

Sorry but research from financial institutes points to lower funding from the states. The states are not spending as much for higher education as in the past. States are not meeting the demand, colleges have no choice but to raise tutition rates.

gavinf56

For the past 30 years (other than the past 2-3 years) college funding by the states increased annually at a rate higher than inflation, and yet tuition rates still increased annually at a pace exceeding inflation. Lack of governmental funding isn't the cause of the tuition increases.